New federal program targets abandoned crab, lobster traps
April 21, 2023 GMTNORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The U.S. government is launching a new program to combat the scourge of abandoned crab and lobster traps, which can dilute harvests and kill other fish in coastal waters from Maine to Alaska.
California cuts short commercial Dungeness crab season
March 31, 2023 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California will cut short the commercial Dungeness crab season to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Thursday.
Family, community still searching for missing crabber
February 8, 2023 GMTLONG BEACH, Wash. (AP) — Family and members of the community are still searching for a missing crabber days after two others were rescued from a boat that sank near southwest Washington’s Willapa Bay, officials said.
1 missing, 2 rescued from crab boat off Washington coast
February 7, 2023 GMTRAYMOND, Wash. (AP) — A crew member remains missing and two others were rescued from crab boat that sank near Willapa Bay in southwest Washington on Sunday evening, according to the Coast Guard.
Scientists say pollution not cause of UK mass crab deaths
January 20, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — British scientists said Friday they don’t think pollution killed thousands of crabs that washed up on beaches in northeast England, though they are unsure what did cause the unusual die-off.
Judge: Corps must discuss spillway use with fisheries agency
January 19, 2023 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must consult with federal fisheries experts on the effects of opening a spillway that protects New Orleans from Mississippi River flooding, but threatens coastal Mississippi marine life and tourism.
Dungeness crab harvest delayed off Washington, Oregon coast
January 11, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — The key Dungeness crab harvest areas from Klipsan Beach, Washington, to Cape Falcon, Oregon, will not open until Feb. 1 because surveys found legal-sized males still lacked enough recoverable meat in their shells.
Report: US’s largest estuary, Chesapeake Bay, earns D-plus
January 5, 2023 GMTANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — An environmental group gave the Chesapeake Bay watershed a D-plus grade in an evaluation released on Thursday — the same grade earned in its last report two years ago.
Efforts to restore the nation's largest estuary are struggling to reduce agricultural pollution, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said in a news release on its State of the Bay report, which is released every two years.
California’s commercial Dungeness crab season opens Dec. 31
December 23, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — After three delays, the commercial Dungeness crab season in California will finally open on New Year's Eve, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Thursday.
The start of the season had been curtailed in order to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines.
California’s commercial Dungeness crab season delayed again
December 8, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The start of the commercial Dungeness crab season in California has been delayed further to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said Wednesday that commercial crabbing will be delayed until at least Dec.
Whales off California coast delay commercial crab season
November 22, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — For the fourth year in a row, the start of the commercial Dungeness crab season in California will be delayed to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines, it was announced Monday.
Whales off California coast delay commercial crab season
October 29, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The start of the commercial Dungeness crab season in California will be delayed to protect whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday it was delaying the start of the commercial season, which traditionally begins Nov.
Alaska’s Bering snow crab, king crab seasons canceled
October 11, 2022 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Alaska officials have canceled the fall Bristol Bay red king crab harvest, and for the first time, have also scrapped the winter harvest of smaller snow crab.
The move is a double whammy to a fleet from Alaska, Washington and Oregon chasing Bering Sea crab in harvests that in 2016 grossed $280 million, The Seattle Times reported.
Agencies, tribes work to stop growth of invasive crab
August 24, 2022 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Agencies, tribes and groups across Washington state are working to limit the growth of European green crab populations. Scientists say the invasive species can consume shellfish and other native marine life, and destroy habitats that much of the food web relies on.
Oregon triples bag limit for invasive green crabs
August 13, 2022 GMTSALEM, Ore. (AP) — New state regulations now allow recreational crabbers to catch triple the number of invasive green crabs from Oregon’s bays and inlets.
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission increased the bag limit of European green crab from 10 to 35 per day.
Puget Sound crabbing starts Friday
July 1, 2022 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Puget Sound crabbing kicks off Friday!
While some Western Washington crabbing areas, like the South Coast / Pacific Ocean and Columbia River have yearlong crabbing seasons, the season starts July 1 in most Puget Sound areas.
Record low numbers prompt limits on Chesapeake Bay crabbing
June 30, 2022 GMTANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — New restrictions on crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay will take effect this year after the blue crab count plummeted to its lowest level since surveys began in 1990.
California fisherman sued in ‘egregious’ crabbing case
May 30, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California fisherman illegally caught hundreds of Dungeness crabs in the protected North Farallon Islands State Marine Reserve, according to a lawsuit filed last week by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
First invasive European green crab found in Hood Canal
May 20, 2022 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — An invasive European green crab was captured this week in Hood Canal, the farthest south the species has been found in the Salish Sea.
Volunteers with Washington Sea Grant trapped the male European green crab in Nick’s Lagoon near Seabeck in Kitsap County, The Seattle Times reported.
Survey: Chesapeake’s crab population at lowest since 1990
May 19, 2022 GMTANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The number of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay is estimated to be at the lowest level observed since an annual survey tracking the population began in 1990, officials announced Thursday.
Group to retrieve lost crab pots, save marine wildlife
May 5, 2022 GMTANACORTES, Wash. (AP) — While most crab pots dropped into the Salish Sea are recovered, many are not, and the Northwest Straits Foundation is going after them.
Pots remaining on the seafloor can cause havoc for years, trapping and killing marine wildlife, the Skagit Valley Herald reported.
In Cuba, crabs embark on perilous migration to Bay of Pigs
April 12, 2022 GMTPLAYA GIRON, Cuba (AP) — Every year in Cuba, millions of crabs emerge from the forest at the beginning of the spring rains and head for the waters of the Bay of Pigs, crossing streets and highways on a perilous journey to mate and reproduce.
Dungeness crab fishery closing due to whale entanglements
April 7, 2022 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The commercial Dungeness crab fishery off all of California's coast will be closed this month because humpback whales have been entangled in fishing gear, wildlife authorities said.
Dungeness crab season off most of California to end early
March 26, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Commercial Dungeness crab fishing off most of California's coast will end early after two humpback whales were recently entangled in crab-fishing gear, authorities announced Friday.
Crab fishing closures recommended after whale entanglements
March 23, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two humpback whales were tangled in fishing gear off central California in recent days and state wildlife officials are recommending commercial Dungeness crab fishing be suspended to reduce the risk of more entanglements as the whales migrate north.
Gov. issues emergency order over green crab infestation
January 20, 2022 GMTBELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee has issued an emergency order to address the exponential population growth of the invasive European green crab within the Lummi Nation’s Sea Pond, Makah Bay, Grays Harbor, and Willapa Bay.
Hearings set for new electronic lobster boat tracking rules
December 20, 2021 GMTPORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — Interstate fishing managers are holding a series of public hearings next month about a plan to implement electronic tracking for lobster boats.
An arm of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is considering implementing the tracking requirements for lobster and Jonah crab boats that have federal permits.
Volunteers raise oyster gardens to help restore reefs
December 15, 2021 GMTBAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) — It’s time to agitate the oysters at St. Stanislaus High School on Mississippi's Gulf coast.
Students on a platform below the school’s long pier gently shake their oyster garden's wire cages as they pull them from the water, loosening mud and algae that might keep water and nutrients from baby oysters clinging to those shells.
Lobster fishers to weigh in on plan for monitoring of boats
December 8, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Federal fishing managers are looking for feedback from lobster harvesters about a plan to require electronic tracking.
An arm of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, an interstate regulatory authority, is considering implementing the tracking requirements for lobster and Jonah crab boats that have federal permits.
Ancient crab fossil found on Assateague Island
December 6, 2021 GMTSALISBURY, Md. (AP) — The National Parks Service has confirmed the discovery of an ancient crab fossil found along the shores of Assateague Island National Seashore.
Sharon Conn, a visitor to the area, found the fossil in early October on the Virginia portion of Assateague Island.
Lummi Nation declares disaster after invasive crab arrives
December 1, 2021 GMTBELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — The Lummi Indian Business Council has passed a resolution declaring a disaster after more than 70,000 European green crab — an invasive species — were captured and removed from the Lummi Sea Pond in recent months.
Dungeness crab season to open Dec. 1 for first time in years
November 24, 2021 GMTASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — Marine toxins, skinny crabs and contentious price negotiations have all had a hand in delaying the start of Oregon’s lucrative commercial Dungeness crab season in recent years.
Whales off California coast delay commercial crab season
November 3, 2021 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The start of the commercial Dungeness crab season will be delayed for some areas of Northern California for the third year in a row to protect whales and sea turtles from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines.
Feds: Ruling means lobstering to continue in planned closure
October 18, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Federal fishing regulators said Monday that lobster and crab fishermen can continue to fish until further notice in an area off the coast of Maine that had been slated for restriction from their gear.
Feds eye new rules to protect right whales from fishing gear
August 25, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Federal ocean regulators are considering new rules to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from fishing gear.
The whales number only about 360 and are vulnerable to entanglement in the gear.
Clean needles depend on the blue blood of horseshoe crabs
August 20, 2021 GMTCHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — It's one of the stranger, lesser-known aspects of U.S. health care — the striking, milky-blue blood of horseshoe crabs is a critical component of tests to ensure injectable medications such as coronavirus vaccines aren't contaminated.
Couple on hook for $1,400 for illegally selling crab
June 11, 2021 GMTHERMISTON, Ore. (AP) — An eastern Oregon couple has been sentenced to pay $1,200 in restitution after illegally selling recreationally caught crab on the commercial market in Hermiston, according to the Oregon State Police.
Survey: Bay’s juvenile crab population is lowest since 1990
May 22, 2021 GMTSALISBURY, Md. (AP) — An annual survey of Chesapeake Bay blue crabs estimates that the population of juvenile crabs has fallen to its low level since the Maryland Department of Natural Resources started the survey more than 30 years ago.
Officials: invasive green crabs spreading along coast
May 15, 2021 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — European green crabs were found in Washington’s inland waters in 2016, prompting extensive monitoring. Now state officials say this destructive invasive species is spreading in several coastal locations.
Mississippi set to clean up and recycle unused crab traps
December 26, 2020 GMTBILOXI, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources says volunteers will remove unused crab traps from state waters early next year...
Large Chinese mitten crab crawls into German woman’s home
October 8, 2020 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Police in southern Germany say a woman got a shock while airing out her home when a 25-centimeter (10-inch) Chinese mitten crab scurried in from the terrace through the open door...
Crab larvae suffering shell damage from ocean acidification
January 24, 2020 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Ocean acidification is damaging the shells of young Dungeness crab in the Pacific Northwest, an impact that scientists did not expect until much later this century, according to new research.
Horseshoe crabs move onto island ‘ranch’ off Georgia coast
June 10, 2019 GMTSAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — About 40 horseshoe crabs are settling into their new home in a first of its kind "ranch" on Jekyll Island. It's the brainchild of North Carolina-based biotech company Kepley Biosystems.
Canadian crabs with bad attitude threaten coastal ecosystem
September 19, 2018 GMTBIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — Canadians are known as friendly folks, but these crabby brutes migrating from Canadian waters are better suited for the hockey rink...
Dan Conradt: One crab, two castles and a whole lotta sunscreen
July 15, 2018 GMTThe little crab scuttled sideways down the beach, and Steven hovered over it in the kind of half-sitting position you can only accomplish with young knees. The crab stopped when a frothy wave rolled up onto the sand.
Legislators propose bill to ban harvest of Stratford horsehoe crabs
February 11, 2017 GMTSTRATFORD - A pair of state legislators want to ban fishermen from harvesting horseshoe crab along the town’s shoreline to protect a species some believe is struggling in Long Island Sound.
“This is an adaptable species that has been around for 300 million for years,” said state Rep.